Web conferencing software is nothing new and, in some industries, it has been a valuable tool for decades. However, as much of the world’s workforce has shifted to working from home in 2020, video conferencing has transformed from a helpful supporting technology for businesses into an essential tool across the workforce that is keeping the majority of businesses up and running.
Within the healthcare industry, telemedicine enables healthcare providers to improve their patient reach, reduce costs, maximize time, improve emergency response, and improve overall health outcomes. Thanks to technological advances, video conferencing software has now become accessible for businesses of any size.
What makes a Web Conference Software Company HIPAA-compliant?
With the recent massive increase in telehealth appointments as a result of the current global pandemic, healthcare providers must ensure that sensitive patient data is protected. Healthcare professionals should make certain that they are using a fully HIPAA and/or HITECH-compliant web conferencing service.
To ensure HIPAA compliance when choosing a video conferencing tool, it is advisable that healthcare professionals:
- Verify that the web conference software company offers a Business Associate Agreement (BAA)
- Choose a provider that offers end-to-end encryption
- Check that your provider has completed a relevant risk assessment to ensure compliance
- Ensure that web conferencing software implements the necessary access controls, making sure that video calls are password protected
- Make sure that the chosen software has detailed auditing trails in place
- Confirm that the telemedicine software features user authentication
- Ensure that all application executables are digitally signed to ensure data integrity
Choosing a HIPAA-Compliant Web Conference Software Company
While there are hundreds of web conferencing tools available, there are subtle differences between these solutions. Below we have highlighted some of the top HIPAA-compliant web conferencing services:
- Let’s Talk Interactive
- Doxy.me
- Zoom for Healthcare
- TheraNest
- thera-LINK
- GoToMeeting
- Medici
- Mend
- SimplePractice
- VSee
1. Let’s Talk Interactive
Let’s Talk Interactive is a leading provider of HIPAA-compliant telehealth technology solutions, facilitating over three million minutes of remote telehealth sessions each month. They deliver a customizable and user-friendly web conferencing platform, ensuring high levels of security and full HIPAA compliance. Compatible with any operating system, browser, or mobile phone, this company’s cloud-based telehealth platform can be used by medical organizations, ranging from solo practitioners to hospital networks.
2. Doxy.me
Doxy.me is a highly popular cloud-based web conferencing solution that is fully compliant with HIPAA, GDPR, PHIPA/PIPEDA, and HITECH standards. Doxy.me provides healthcare professionals with a free, simple, and easily accessible interface, requiring no download of software thanks to its browser-based platform. Users can benefit from a fully customizable virtual patient queue, a live chat function, and a BAA across all accounts. High-quality HD video and audio ensures that healthcare providers and their patients have a positive virtual experience.
3. Zoom for Healthcare
The popularity of Zoom has risen rapidly during the global coronavirus pandemic. Despite being used primarily by businesses, Zoom also offers a plan aimed specifically at the healthcare industry. Zoom for Healthcare offers a HIPAA-compliant video conferencing solution for healthcare providers that includes a signed BAA. Zoom for Healthcare can successfully integrate with medical devices, such as medical cameras and digital stethoscopes, as well as a patient’s electronic health record (EHR).
4. TheraNest
TheraNest is a HIPAA-compliant web-based practice management software tool for the mental health sector. This software is used by therapists, counselors, social workers, and psychologists in educational, non-profit, individual, and large health organizations. Patients can join a scheduled meeting simply by using a unique invite link with no need to download any additional software. This EHR solution offers clients storage for patient information, insurance billing tools, and calendar scheduling, with HIPAA-compliant telehealth video conferencing an additional useful feature available for an extra cost.
5. thera-LINK
thera-LINK is a video conferencing solution that is targeted specifically at professionals working within the mental and behavioral health sector, providing them with an essential tool for both one-to-one and group therapy sessions. All video conferencing sessions are fully secured and encrypted to ensure the safety of PHI. thera-LINK incorporates important security features including end-to-end encryption and secure file sharing.
6. GoToMeeting
GoToMeeting provides web-hosted face-to-face video conferencing to businesses and professionals. Powered by LogMeIn, GoToMeeting offers a specific, easy-to-use web conferencing platform for healthcare professionals. The software fully supports HIPAA compliance by offering clients a comprehensive BAA and providing robust security measures, such as meeting locks, access codes, and invite-only restrictions. GoToMeeting offers clients a choice of three plans – professional, business, and enterprise, and unlike many competitors, all of these plans are HIPAA compliant.
7. Medici
Medici provides medical professionals with a HIPAA-compliant telehealth mobile app. A striking feature of this software is the ability to import patient contact information into the Medici app directly from a supported EHR. Medici’s platform implements robust security standards, with SOC2 Type 2, HIPAA, and VcPR compliance. Using this platform, patients can choose between three secure consultation options: text, voice, or HD video.
8. Mend
Mend is a comprehensive integrated telehealth and patient engagement platform. Mend allows integration with EHR services and access to numerous patient communication tools. Mend enables healthcare professionals and patients to make a secure connection with just the click of a link, enabling the sharing of videos, files, photos, messages, and data. PredictiveIQ AI can be used to predict missed appointments and automated appointment reminders can also be set up. Mend meets all HIPAA requirements while providing patients and healthcare providers with a friendly and easy-to-use interface.
9. SimplePractice
SimplePractice offers healthcare organizations bank-level encryption to ensure that sensitive patient data remains secure, anonymous, and private during telemedical appointments. Using SimplePractice, patients are able to access meetings from anywhere using just a link and can even share information with their healthcare professionals prior to their appointment. Incorporating many useful features, SimplePractice’s offer of insurance processing distinguishes it from many of its competitors.
10. VSee
With over 10 years of experience within the healthcare sector, VSee offers an all-in-one platform that provides its users with easy-to-use HIPAA-compliant video conferencing and remote patient monitoring. VSee enables healthcare professionals to connect with their patients in between appointments, as well as offering the ability to integrate with popular medical devices. VSee securely encrypts all audio and video communication and provides users with a BAA.
How Can Atlantic.Net Help?
Atlantic.Net is a global cloud service provider with over 30 years of industry-leading experience. We have very many happy healthcare clients that leverage Atlantic.Net services for a robust and scalable HIPAA-compliant hosting solution that can integrate directly with your telehealth applications.
We can provide turn-key hosting solutions that include encrypted VPN connectivity, perfect if your medical organization opts for a cloud-based SaaS web conferring solution. We encrypt peer-to-peer connections and implement access controls in line with HIPAA safeguard recommendations.
Our world-class HIPAA hosting facilities can power your healthcare infrastructure, giving you the performance needed to build your own teleconferencing solution on our platform. We have detailed instructions on how to install Let’s Chat or Rocket.Chat securely on our HIPAA infrastructure.
If you are a healthcare provider in the market for a secure HIPAA compliant cloud hosting service, contact our sales team to find out how Atlantic.Net can help you.
